Gerrard: Why I just couldn't say goodbye to beloved Reds
Jul 6 2005
EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
STEVEN GERRARD today reflected on today's dramatic developments at Anfield and explained: "I just couldn't leave the club I love".
Gerrard decided to reject Chelsea for the second consecutive summer and told club officials of his momentous u-turn last night.
The Reds skipper revealed today how 24 hours of agonising made him realise just what he'd be giving up if he walked out on the European champions.
An emotional Gerrard confirmed he'll be signing a new four year contract and hopes the speculation surrounding his future will now end for good.
"I had the whole of yesterday to think about my decision and what I was doing. I turned off my phone and my television and went through it all in my head again," said Gerrard.
"After considering everything that's gone on, I just couldn't go through with it and leave this club. I never said I wanted to leave in the first place, but I'd felt I was being backed into a corner and had to push things on.
"I know it was going to look as though I wanted to go, but at one stage I thought I had no choice. When I thought about it more, I just wanted to stay.
"I admitted I've made mistakes and the club has acknowledged they've made some mistakes as well. But now we've sorted it out and I'm doing what I wanted to do all along, which is stay at Liverpool."
The crisis began when Gerrard was concerned about the delay in contract negotiations, which finally started last Wednesday.
Gerrard was concerned manager Rafa Benitez secretly wanted to sell him because it took so long for talks to begin.
Matters were further complicated when false reports appeared in the Spanish Press claiming Gerrard fancied a move to Madrid - something he'd never said.
Liverpool spent the last 48 hours convincing their captain the conspiracy theory was the figment of someone's imagination.
Benitez also argued that the speed of Chelsea's bid on Monday was highly suspicious.
Anfield chief executive Rick Parry admitted the Reds may have underestimated the urgency of the situation to their skipper. At worst, Liverpool were guilty of failing to recognise how important it was for negotiations with the skipper to start immediately after the European Cup Final.
Thankfully for all sides, the situation has been recovered at the eleventh hour.
Liverpool convinced Gerrard there was no conspiracy on their part to engineer his transfer, spelt out just how much they want him and prompted the skipper to re-think after originally indicating the time had come to move on yesterday morning.
"I've now apologised to Liverpool and they've apologised to me, which is important," Gerrard continued. "I was left feeling so confused yesterday. I was receiving all kinds of advice and information from so many people, but I just had to sit down with my girlfriend and advisor and think it all through again for myself. I was just thinking 'how have we got into this mess and what's the best way out of it?'. I knew I had to do what I'd intended doing all along and sign a new contract.
"I made the decision last night that I couldn't leave this club. I love Liverpool so much. This is my club. My heart is with Liverpool. I don't need to tell anyone that. Everyone who knows me can see how I feel. The last thing I wanted to do was leave, I just couldn't do it."
The skipper realises many fans were deeply upset 24 hours ago, but his change of heart will be celebrated by those who couldn't bear the thought of Gerrard moving to Stamford Bridge.
"My relationship with the supporters has always been fantastic and I knew a lot of people would be disappointed if I'd decided to go. I thought about the fans and the future," Gerrard said..
"As I'd said all along, I never wanted to leave. I don't want to go into details now about what happened over the last few weeks because the most important thing now is we can sort it out.
"I'm going to sign a new contract and, like I've always done, will be doing everything possible to make Liverpool successful again.
"It's been a bit of a mess but now we can sort it out and move forward. As I've said, we can all learn things from this.
"Now we all want to look forward."
EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
STEVEN GERRARD today reflected on today's dramatic developments at Anfield and explained: "I just couldn't leave the club I love".
Gerrard decided to reject Chelsea for the second consecutive summer and told club officials of his momentous u-turn last night.
The Reds skipper revealed today how 24 hours of agonising made him realise just what he'd be giving up if he walked out on the European champions.
An emotional Gerrard confirmed he'll be signing a new four year contract and hopes the speculation surrounding his future will now end for good.
"I had the whole of yesterday to think about my decision and what I was doing. I turned off my phone and my television and went through it all in my head again," said Gerrard.
"After considering everything that's gone on, I just couldn't go through with it and leave this club. I never said I wanted to leave in the first place, but I'd felt I was being backed into a corner and had to push things on.
"I know it was going to look as though I wanted to go, but at one stage I thought I had no choice. When I thought about it more, I just wanted to stay.
"I admitted I've made mistakes and the club has acknowledged they've made some mistakes as well. But now we've sorted it out and I'm doing what I wanted to do all along, which is stay at Liverpool."
The crisis began when Gerrard was concerned about the delay in contract negotiations, which finally started last Wednesday.
Gerrard was concerned manager Rafa Benitez secretly wanted to sell him because it took so long for talks to begin.
Matters were further complicated when false reports appeared in the Spanish Press claiming Gerrard fancied a move to Madrid - something he'd never said.
Liverpool spent the last 48 hours convincing their captain the conspiracy theory was the figment of someone's imagination.
Benitez also argued that the speed of Chelsea's bid on Monday was highly suspicious.
Anfield chief executive Rick Parry admitted the Reds may have underestimated the urgency of the situation to their skipper. At worst, Liverpool were guilty of failing to recognise how important it was for negotiations with the skipper to start immediately after the European Cup Final.
Thankfully for all sides, the situation has been recovered at the eleventh hour.
Liverpool convinced Gerrard there was no conspiracy on their part to engineer his transfer, spelt out just how much they want him and prompted the skipper to re-think after originally indicating the time had come to move on yesterday morning.
"I've now apologised to Liverpool and they've apologised to me, which is important," Gerrard continued. "I was left feeling so confused yesterday. I was receiving all kinds of advice and information from so many people, but I just had to sit down with my girlfriend and advisor and think it all through again for myself. I was just thinking 'how have we got into this mess and what's the best way out of it?'. I knew I had to do what I'd intended doing all along and sign a new contract.
"I made the decision last night that I couldn't leave this club. I love Liverpool so much. This is my club. My heart is with Liverpool. I don't need to tell anyone that. Everyone who knows me can see how I feel. The last thing I wanted to do was leave, I just couldn't do it."
The skipper realises many fans were deeply upset 24 hours ago, but his change of heart will be celebrated by those who couldn't bear the thought of Gerrard moving to Stamford Bridge.
"My relationship with the supporters has always been fantastic and I knew a lot of people would be disappointed if I'd decided to go. I thought about the fans and the future," Gerrard said..
"As I'd said all along, I never wanted to leave. I don't want to go into details now about what happened over the last few weeks because the most important thing now is we can sort it out.
"I'm going to sign a new contract and, like I've always done, will be doing everything possible to make Liverpool successful again.
"It's been a bit of a mess but now we can sort it out and move forward. As I've said, we can all learn things from this.
"Now we all want to look forward."
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